Chainmaker, There was a fellow who used to sell Simplex repops and they were the exact size as the original. He installed a Briggs 5hp with no probs. I doubt you will have any probs mounting a 5hp Briggs in your bike. It has been done many times.

Rick, I got sidetracked into building some rifles. I just finished an airsoft 1903 Springfield and a Mosin Nagant and have two other rifles I want to build. The bike is in the shop and it is so hot in there that it would be more like torture than fun to work on it now. I can work on the rifles under AC  I will shoot some shots of the rifles and post a couple. I know they arn't bikes, but it's all good.

You have a very nice bike to work with. I can hardly wait to see the progress on this build.

Hi Chainmaker. Glad to see you. Rick just gave you some solid advice. The last time I spoke to Wayne he had 5 incomplete motors. He was in the midst of trying to get pistons to complete them. When he does have a ready motor they generally sell in the $1,800 up range. So if you can find a decent motor have at it A Briggs (or similar) motor with a Comet clutch would be your best bet for a rider. The Briggs is a much more dependable motor in my opinion. Honda is a darn nice motor too. Anyway, you have plenty of time to be looking, comparing and studying the whole thing over.

Thats a great bike you have built there. Congradulations on a job well done. The fellow building the Simplex bikes was John Cubine. I lost touch with him in 2001 when I went out of the country for several years. His brother, Phil, lived in Fla and made the fiberglass fenders and gas tank for the bikes. The bikes were very well built and to meet modern safety requirements had turn signals, ect. The bikes were very expensive and they were asking $5,000 for them. I only know of one bike that sold and that was at the show in Portland, Ind. The motor was a 5hp Briggs with electric start. A pair of Phil's fiberglass fenders recently sold on Ebay for $47.00 I had ment to bid on them but simply forgot them.

You are doing a first rate job Trooper. I am going to have to follow in your footsteps it looks like. I had hoped to sell this rolling frame I have here, but that went belly up. Soooo. I have been gathering parts for this build. So far I have picked up a foot crank for the Briggs motor and a Thompson Submachine Gun to mount on the front wheel. (Airsoft) and like you I will have to fabricate the rest of it. I have no intention of paying $300 for a windshield or the same for a Thompson gun sheath.

Are those Simplex tires on the bike? I doubt I will pay much for the tires and was thinking of using the Whizzer 3" tires. In anycase I know you have put a lot of time and effort into your bike and you have done a great job. Thanks for sharing.

That 1948 Simplex Manual is the same one we butted heads over on Ebay If you are the one who got this one you saved a buncha money.